Can opener



June 28, 1955 H. D. MUNDAY CAN OPENER Filed Dec. 15, 1955 INVENTOR. #pm (5 CAN OPENER Horace D. Munday, Schenectady, N. Y.

Application December 15, 1953, Serial No. 398,331

Claims. (Cl. 30-3) This invention relates to can openers, and has particular relation to the old-fashioned, lever-action type of can opener.

Can openers may be considered to include types which may be classified in two general categories, the leveraction type and the rotary gear type. The lever-action type can opener generally leaves a ragged edge on both can and lid and frequently fails to open small cans properly since small cans may have too short a radius of curvature. The resulting ragged edge on both can and lid is inherently hazardous; however, the lever-action can opener is still widely used since it is cheap, simple, portable and requires no wall mounting. The lever action can opener is easy to clean by holding it under a faucet and, in addition, it will open any kind of a can, which is not true of the rotary type can opener.

The rotary gear type of can opener depends upon a bead on the edge of a can to provide the purchase against which a geared wheel may be turned in order to drive the cutting edge of the can opener around the inner portion of the bead. The use of this type of can opener is, therefore, limited to those cans which have a bead and will not work satisfactorily to open cans having no bead such as those cans customarily used for essentially homogenous products such as evaporated milk.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved lever-action can opener.

Another object of this invention is to provide a leveraction can opener that will open any cans.

Another object is to provide a lever-action can opener that will turn down the cut edge of the can to provide a smooth edge portion on the can.

Lever-action can openers presently known in the art may be classified as either first or second class levers. In the first class lever type the fulcrum is between the source of power and the resistance and the handle must be pressed downward to lift the knife to make its upward cutting stroke. In the second class lever type the knife is in the middle and therefore between the fulcrum and the source of power so that the handle must be raised to lift the knife to make its upward cutting stroke. In each of these cases a jagged-edged cut results. According to an embodiment of my invention the knife is in the middle between the fulcrum and the source of power, but the handle is pressed downward to move the knife in a downward cutting stroke which turns down the outer edge of the out against the inside of the can and thereby results in a smooth edge which is not sharp or hazardous.

A preferred embodiment of this invention may consist of a can opener comprising a lever member including a handle portion and a blade portion for penetrating and entering a can when pressure is applied to the handle portion. A second member is coupled to the lever member so as to oppose the blade portion of the lever and provide a fulcrum for the lever. When the blade is inserted into a can top the opposing member contacts the outside of the can and holds the blade snug against the hired States, Patent 0 ice side of the can thereby providing a fulcrum and resulting in a smooth turned-down edge as the blade is caused to move around the periphery of the can top by exerting a downward pressure on the blade.

The construction and operation of this invention are made clear in the following description and drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a can opener constructed according to the principles of this invention; and

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing how the implement is applied in opening a can.

In Figure 1 of the drawing it is seen that this leveraction can opener has the general form of a pair of pliers, with the jaws designed to grip and cut the can.

The two arms or handles 1 and 2 are united swivelly by the pivot 3, which may be integral at its lower end with the arm 2 on the underside. The arm 2 is flattened at the jaw end and the flattened part bent at right angles to the plane of the handles to form a knife 4, which is hardened and ground to an edge to cut the lid of the can, and pointed at 5 to pierce the lid of the can. A satisfactory handle member is provided against which a force may be applied to drive the blade 4 through the top of a can and may be in the form of member 2a which is an extension of arm 2 and is approximately at right angles to the axis of the implement. Knife 4, instead of being integral with handle 2, may be a separate piece of fiat tool steel spot welded or otherwise attached to a soft steel handle.

Jaw 7 may be an extension of arm 1 and has attached to its extremity a member which is designed to contact the exterior of a can when the blade 4 is inserted into the can. This contacting member may consist, for example, of stud 8 which is turned down at its extremity to form the hardened spur 9. A jam nut 10 may be provided to keep the stud in position. Spur 9 is ground to an edge of approximately 60 to degrees with respect to the axis of the spur, the plane of grinding being parallel to jaw 7 or the longitudinal axis of the implement. Spur 9 should be small in diameter so as to provide a substantially point contact. A spring member 11 is provided between handles 1 and 2 so as to keep spur 9 and knife 4 slightly separated. Spring 11 may be of light weight and merely serves to keep the spur 9 and knife 4 slightly apart until the handles 1 and 2 are pressed together.

In order to provide a can opener with a long cut slots 12, one in each arm, are cut to one side of pivot 3. These slots permit the rim of the can being cut to extend beyond pivot 3 before it abuts on the lower side of the implement, thus making a longer cut possible if desired. It also makes possible greater clamping leverage by the possibility of moving stud 8 closer to pivot 3 without decreasing the length of the cutting stroke. The slots 12 register when the cutting stroke is being made.

Since pivot 3 is integral at its lower end with arm 2, slots may be made through the pivot in a more compact form of the implement, as indicated by the broken lines 13. It will be appreciated that the additional slots 12 and 13 are not necessary in a can opener embodying the principles of this invention; however, these slots may be added in those adaptations of this invention where it is considered desirable to have a relatively long cutting stroke.

In opening the can 14 by cutting the lid 15, the imple ment is held vertically over the lid, with the point 50f the knife 4 near the rim 16 of the can. Pressure is then applied to the handle 2 or, if necessary the part 2a of the handle 2 is struck with the palm of the hand to pierce the lid and bring the spur 9 below the rim or bead of the can. Handles 1 and 2 are pressed closer together, clamping the side of the can between spur 9 and knife 4. While the handles are being pressed together they are swung down to the left, the knife 4 cutting a downward gash 17 in the lid, and at the same time pressing the outer boundary of the gash down and close against the inside of the can, as indicated by the shaded part 18. The clampingpressure on the handles is then released, jaw 7 swung forward clock-wise a step and another cut made in the lid, and so on till the lid is completely severed. The edge on spur 9 prevents any slipping of the spur on the side of the can. If the edge should become worn and the spur begin to slip, a hone or file may be used to sharpen the spur in place, or the stud 8 may be taken out and the spur sharpened on an emery wheel. In replacing stud 3 after grinding it is necessary to have the edge pointed in the direction of any possible slipping. This is to the right of jaw 7 when the implement stands vertically in operative position in a can.

A slightly modified form is an implement in which the arms do not cross, although united pivotally. In this case the handles must move apart to bring the jaws together. This movement can be accomplished by a double toggle-joint mounted between the handles. Or one toggle-joint may be used, the hand grasping this togglejoint and the part 2a, squeezing them together to force the handles apart.

Another modification is to omit 2a and expand the end of one handle, preferably 2., into a knob for receiving a push or blow from the palm of the hand to force the knife 4 into the lid of the can. It will be noted that the examples of can openers constructed in accordance with this invention provide a fulcrum, which is independent of any cooperation with a head or lip on a can. The fulcrum is effected by means of the pressure of an external contact, such as spur 9, against the outside of the can which cooperates with the blade within the can. Since no cooperation between the can opener of this invention and a bead or lip on a can is necessary, as is the case with previously known can openers which cooperate with the bead or lip of a can, the can opener of this invention is ideally suited to be used to open cans having very flexible side walls and no bead as well as cans having beads.

It therefore may be seen that this invention provides an implement which will open any kind of can and leave no jagged edge on the can. It requires no wall mounting and is quickly cleaned by holding it under the faucet. It has the good points of both general kinds of can openers and the defects of neither kind. It will be recognized that the embodiments of this invention which have been specifically described are given merely by way of example and that this invention may take a variety of forms which incorporate my invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A lever-action can opener comprising two arms united by a pivot toward their lower ends, the upper ends serving as handles, the lower end of one of said arms mounting a knife with its plane substantially parallel to the axis of the pivot, the lower end of the other of said arms mounting a gripping member adapted to be anchored pivotally on a spot on the outside of a can and forcing said knife against said spot by pressure on the handles when the implement is in operative position on said can, with the knife on the inside of the can and the gripping member on the outside of said can,

2. A lever-action type of can opener including two pivotally united intersecting arms, the upper ends of the arms serving as handles, the lower end of one of said arms terminating in a knife with its plane substantially parallel to the axis of the pivot, the lower end of the other of said arms mounting a gripping member adapted to be anchored pivotally on the outside of a can to force the knife against said can by a squeezing pressure applied to said handles when the implement is in operative position on the can, with the knife on said inside of the can and the gripping member on the outside of said can. I

3. A lever-action type of can opener including two pivotally united intersecting arms, the upper ends of the arms serving as handles, the lower end of one of said arms terminating in a knife with its plane substantially parallel to the axis of the pivot, the lower end of the other of said arms mounting a gripping member adapted for anchoring itself pivotally on the outside of a can and forcing the knife against said can by pressure on the handles when the implement is in operative position on said can, with the knife inside the can and the gripping member on the outside, the upper end of an arm being formed for reception of pressure from a hand without discomfort to the hand.

4. A lever-action can opener including a knife, handle and a fulcrum-contacting part, means for anchoring said fulcrum-contacting part to a spot on the outside of a can and independent of bead cooperation when said opener is in operative position on the can with the knife inside the can.

5. A lever type of can opener comprising a lever the upper end of said lever serving as a handle or holding member, the other or lower end of said lever including a knife portion pointed for penetrating the lid of a can, and means independent of bead cooperation for pivotally anchoring the knife portion to a spot on the inside of said can when the opener is in operative position on said can, with the knife inside the can, preparatory to a downward cutting stroke of the knife on the lid by pressure on the handle.

6. A lever type of can opener of the general form of a pair of pliers, with handles and jaws, a pointed knife forming one jaw, a fulcrum-contacting member mounted on the other jaw, said knife and fulcrum-contacting member pivotally gripping between them a spot on the side of a can when, in operative position on the can, they are pressed together by pressure on the handles preparatory to a downward cutting stroke of the knife.

7. In a lever type of can opener, comprising a lever including a knife, a fulcrum-contacting part and a handle or grasping end, means for anchoring the fulcrum-contacting part pivotally to a spot on the side of the can remote from a head when the opener is in operative position on the can with the knife inside the can.

8. A can opener comprising a lever member including a handle portion and a blade portion for penetrating and entering a can when pressure is applied to said handle portion and means independent of bead cooperation operatively opposing said blade portion to provide a fulcrum for said lever.

9. A can opener comprising a lever member including a handle portion and a blade portion for penetrating and entering a can when pressure is applied to said handle portion and means coupled to said lever member which operatively oppose said blade portion in a region remote from any bead on said can to provide a fulcrum for said lever.

10. A can opener comprising a lever member including a handle portion and a blade portion for penetrating and entering a can when pressure is applied to said handle portion and means coupled to said lever member which operatively oppose said blade portion and contact the exterior of said can in a region remote from any bead on said can when said blade portion is inside said can to provide a fulcrum for said lever whereby a turned down out edge is obtained when said handle portion is actuated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 669,375 Woods Mar. 5, 1901 1,338,643 Murman Apr. 27, 1920 1,675,164 Collins June 26, 1928 2,265,148 Costello Dec. 9, 1941 2,372,948 Haskins Apr. 3, 1945 2,576,505 Engle Nov. 27, 1951 2,583,565 Hallock et al Jan. 29, 1952 

